NEWS FILE PHOTO
The Medicine Hat police major crimes unit investigate the homicide of James Satre in the South Flats on the morning of Oct. 11.
Charges have been laid in the murder of 64-year-old James Satre, whose body was found near his Mill Street home on the morning of Oct. 11.
Robert S. Hoefman, 55, has been charged with first-degree murder.
The homicide and a related extortion case left many questions for police and the community at large.
Police began an investigation into an extortion case on Oct. 10. Then, on Oct. 11, the body of James Satre was found near his home, in an alleyway by the intersection of Mill Street and Smelter Avenue. Police declared Satre’s death a homicide. On Oct. 23, police received additional information potentially linking the two investigations and also “raised concerns that there is a threat to cause death to unknown citizens.”
On Nov. 9 police announced the arrest of Hoefman on a single count of extortion. At that police said the extortion included severe threats and some severe violence, and was directed at more than one person and there were general threats towards the community.
Hoefman first appeared in court on the day of his arrest and has undergone psychiatric evaluations since that time. It was completed in late December.
